Rutgers improves procurement practices but still limits competition for contracts, state says

Rutgers has made strides in its procurement practices, the state comptroller's office said in a report.Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger

TRENTON — New Jersey's fiscal watchdog says Rutgers University is improving some of its procurement practices but continues to limit competition for its public contracts.

The state comptroller's office made that finding in a report issued today. It's a follow up to the agency's 2011 audit of the university's practices.

The new report cites several improvements, including the elimination of a policy that allowed Rutgers to award contracts without any competition simply by declaring it was in the best interest of the university.

But the follow-up review also found the university still limits competition to a select group of bidders.

In its written response to the report, Rutgers said it will be revisiting its contracting procedures following its recent merger with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.